Key holder



P 9 J. MUDRICH 2,295,123

KEY HOLDER Filed Match 22, 1940 are in channel form to Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,295,123 KEY HOLDER Joseph Mudriclr, Chicago, 111. Application March 22, 1940, Serial No. 325,283

, 2 Claims. (01. 70-4561v The invention relates to improvements in key holders and has for its primary object the provision of an improved construction of this character which is capable of economical production and highly efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction of this character having provision therein for readily shifting one or more keys into operative position or positions.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a key holder embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a key partly projecting therefrom for use;

Fig. 3 an enlarged top plan view of the key holder with the keys removed;

Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of showing one of the keys in place;

Fig. 5 a transverse section tially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 a partial longitudinal section showing a modified form of construction; and

Fig. '7 a top plan view corresponding to Fig. 6.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing comprises a suitable body member I0 which may be conveniently formed of Celluloid, Bakelite or other plastic molded material. The body member I0 is divided by three longitudinal vertical partitions ll into four key spaces, asindicated, and a removable transverse pivot screw I2 is extended through one of the ends of said key spaces for the purpose of pivotally mounting keys l3 therein. A leaf spring 14 is arranged as shown in each of the key spaces in position to project each key from its space when released. Slidable detents l5, l6, l1 and I8 are arranged as shown over the ends of the key spaces and are equipped with staggered thumb projections l9 which facilitate manipulations of said detents. Each of the partitions II is provided with an enlargement 20 having a central well or slot 2|, and the detents fit over the upper edges of the outer walls and partitions, and to carry inwardly turned lugs 22 slidably engaging slots 23 in the walls of the body member, as shown, and whereby said detents are slidably mounted so as to be capable of either holding the keys the key holder taken substanin their spaces or releasing them for projection through the action of the springs H. A recess 24 is provided as shown in the body member ID to iacilitate return of the keys to their spaces and a notch 25 is also provided in said body member to facilitate handling of the same.

By this arrangement any one of the keys l3 mounted in the holder may be automatically released and projected therefrom by moving the corresponding detent back sufiiciently to release the end of the key. When it is desired to return the key to the holder, it is simply swung back into its space and the corresponding detent shifted to engage and hold the same. The specific form and arrangement of parts disclosed constitutes a simple and effective construction for the purpose.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, a guide bar or plate 26 is arranged across the ends of the key spaces as shown, and key detents 21 are slidably mounted on this plate 26 as shown, each detent being provided with a thumb projection 28 for ready manipulation thereof. operation is the same as that already described. While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction for carrying the invention into effect, these are capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A key holder comprising a body member having a plurality of spaces therein for the reception of keys; means for pivotally mounting keys in said spaces to be capable of swinging into and out of the same;

from; and'a releasably slidable detent arranged on said body member to span each of said spaces and adapted and arranged to hold each corresponding key in its space, each detent being in channel form to fit over the upper edges of the outer walls and partitions and each carrying inwardly turned lugs there being slots in the walls of the body member to receive said lugs and slidably secure said. detents to said body member.

2. A key holder comprising a body member having a plurality of spaces therein for the reception of. keys; a key mounting pivot traversing one end of said spaces for mounting keys therein to be swung into and out of the spaces; a spring disposed in each space to project the corresponding key therefrom; and a detent reciprocable longitudinally of the holder over each key space, each detent having slidable connection with the holder over the upper edge portion thereof.

JOSEPH MUDRICH.

a spring arranged in each of said spaces to project corresponding key there- 

